Update with a little rant...

So as you have noticed I have been MIA from blogging. What can I say..I'm a slacker! I guess I'm not really good at multi-tasking. It's either blogging, chatting on the phone, facebooking, photography or crotcheting. One or the other, but never all at once. Sad I know, but that is just how things roll with me. If I am crotcheting (which I have been..ALOT) there just isn't much time left for anything else.

AND of course my friggin dial-up takes friggin forever to load a pic! Every pic I take I have to go and downsize just to get it to load (either here or on facebook) in 20 minutes! Drives me INSANE! If I leave it as it is, it takes 35 minutes or wont load at all...error is becoming way too common on my computer. Anyway, just incase you were wondering... what happened to that girl? I am increasingly getting frustrated with dial-up and of course I have to live in the freaking twlight zone where no satalite can reach! Can ya tell I'm losing it?! Do I feel better now...naw, not really.

So another year of my life has gone and passed by. I woke up on my birthday and looked in the mirror (by accident) and HOLY SMOLY, where the heck did those wrinkles come from?! I swear I instantly looked older! Naw, what it really was was I had had four teeth pulled a week ago and the swelling just suddenly went down and left my mouth a little sunken in...thus a new line on my face! Just what I needed ON my birthday! LOL! Cruel fate.

All them pretty little kittens (wow, look at all them T's) on my front porch are driving me nuts! They are cute and all but for the life of me I can't seem to find them homes. At one point I thought I had all but one spoken for and suddenly everyone bailed on me. Not one person has actually come and gotten one, lots of interest and promises, but alas they are all five still here. I am going though what used to be a months worth of cat food in a week! Oh and apparently word got around that this was the house to get food at cause earlier today I had to chase off two other cats and the neighbors little dog. It's bad enough I am feeding three adult cats and five kittens, I don't need the whole neighborhood thinking I am giving away free food!

Well after sitting here and rereading what I have written...I have come to the conclution that I seriously need to get out of the house! I NEED to find something to do other than sit on my duff all day. BUT of course leaving the house always ends up costing money, particularly gasoline. Sigh.

I guess I better go to bed before I either have a freak out or a meltdown. Tomorrow will be better, it has plans. Thank goodness the weekend always yeilds something to do.

Sorry if this turned into a pity party. Just one of those days that seems to weigh heavy.

Taking some time for the Special Olympics.

So your probably wondering what happened, where have I been, what have I been up too?

What happened...Well first I got sick but was still trying to stay with it. The lingering dizziness and fatigue that is still here, but has eased up a little, have really taken its toll on me body and mind. If you feel neglected, you should see my house! Hubby has done the dishes for me many times since this thing set in. Bless his heart!

Where have I been...Well I'm embarrassed to say I have been right here, hiding in the cloud of a mindless woman. Okay that was stretching the truth, but it was like that at first. I guess you could say I detached myself from blogger, not literally but mentally. I know it's not fair to yall for me to be soo neglectful, it wasn't intentional,, it just evolved it to a blah. Matter of a fact all my Internet experiences of late have been a blah. Does that mean I am done with blogging? No, it just means it's a little slow around here in this old brain of mine. Maybe I will slow down for now, hubby has been very happy to have lots of my attention and it's been good for me too.

What have I been up to?...Crocheting! Yeah it is finally in the temps of crocheting weather. It is a passion that definitely interferes with blog reading or creating, very difficult to crochet and blog at the same time, well at least for me it is.

My perfect model
I finished up some unfinished projects and went looking for yarn on ebay, when I couldn't find what color I was looking for I went to the Red Heart site. My world changed for that one decision. Up at the top of their site is a "Follow us on Facebook" button. I did that! Then I learnt of the Special Olympics Scarf Project. The details are here, just in case your interested as much as I am. I even got my bf to get busy with some scarfs and trying to talk the old man at our local craft store to put up flyers.

My current work with the Special Olympics colors
It's funny..last year I pretty much skipped crocheting season and this year I can barely put it down. I am having a lot of fun, knowing some of my work is for such a good cause doesn't hurt.

The scarf I sold
Oh and I posted my finished work on the Read Heart Yarn Facebook page and sold my first scarf! I guess you could say that motivates me even more to get the most out of this season as I can. I also signed myself up for the next available knitting classes here in my local town, that should be interesting.

Hope yall wont miss me too much, but I'll still be around just not as often. Okay soo back to work I go!

Woes with me!

Just a quick note...
Phone issues is still unresolved! Ever once in a while I can get online, but it is a crap shoot as to how long it will last. Yesterday it was 20 minutes and then again for a whole 30 seconds. I am at my wits end as to what to do. The repairman says he has been here twice! I have been working in the yard for two days staight and have yet to see him pull into my driveway. Why he is lying is beyond me!

I will be back when ever I can. I feel like I am stuck in a time loop that has no end! I'll just be here going round for round with the insanity of it all!

If I can't get back before the weekend...have a good one.

My Weekend

Sorry I haven't been around. The phone issue was freaky and uncertain at best. I could log in during the day but not at night. The buzz in my phone got louder and louder to the point of not being able to use it at all. I spent all weekend with no Internet.

But I got a lot done. Just further proof that the Internet has interfered with me getting things done around the house.

Saturday:
Visited with best friend and had a real good time. That evening I reorganized my dresser and closet.

Sunday:
My brother and SIL came to visit. BUT before they got here, of course I cleaned up the house. They stayed and had supper with us. Pretty cool I was able to feed four people for just over a dollar. Mashed potatoes and free bass fillets, hubby got from BF's husband. YUM!!

I gave them stuff for the baby (who is going to be my namesake), stuff for the new apartment and some food.

If you will remember I won the giveaway over at What passes as sane on a crazy day
When I entered the giveaway, I never intended to use it for myself. I knew right off that I would give it to brother and SIL for the new baby.
I know yall are just so curious about what they picked from the site www.csnstores.com

A crib and mattress (mattress sold separately).

Out of pocket expense for me: $41! What a fabulous deal! Thanks Spot!

Well while they were here, my brother starts looking around wanting to see what things have been done to the house since he was last here. Sadly I was embarrassed that I really haven't done anything noticeable except for the office. This was weighing on my mind after they left. Sooo, I broke out the tiles and glue and started doing the hallway and bathroom floor at 1am to 3am. this morning!

Monday:
I worked extra hard in the yard while waiting for the so called phone repairman. I weed eated the patio bricks and sprayed weed killer into each and every seam of each and every brick. When I tried to stand up, I thought my back would never be the same again!! I am sooo feeling the burn in the back of my thighs! I might not be able to move tomorrow! LOL! I then moved on to weed eating the other trouble areas, like the flower bed I put down last year and was over grown with the toughest grass I have ever seen. I decided to tear it all up and move all my rocks. I don't think I will try that area again any time soon.

About that soo called repairman...I wanted till 2:30 and called the company thinking they could easily find out where their man was and how much longer. Nope all I got was a vague UP TILL 8pm. I told her he had better not show up at 8pm, cause my hubby is going to bed at that hour and he will come unglued! It fell on deaf ears. I took both phones to bed with me for a nap. I figured when the guy came knocking on the door the dogs barking would wake me up. No barking ever happened and I didn't miss any calls. I call them back and she says he has been here and didn't find any problems, so he left. He never even tried to let me know he was there or to check to see if the phone was fixed. That pissed me off!

I checked if I could get online and well here I am! I will be here for ever, cause I'm too scared to go off line, I might never get the connection back again! LOL! AND my phone still has a hum in it!

I have Issues!

Sleeping issues:

I have been getting maybe 5 or 6 hours of sleep, except for Teusday when I slept for 10 hours. I am soo off on my sleeping hours! A little here and a little there. It's getting pretty tiring! Last night I stayed up to get hubby off and then stayed up till nine in the morning! (More on that later) I slept till noon, let the dogs out and slept till two. Seems like I slept the day away but really it was only five hours of broken sleep.

Internet and phone issues:

The reason why I stayed up till nine in the AM..
Yesterday around two, I tried to log into the internet and got nothing. I figured all the numbers where having difficulties from an overload of people logging in. I decided to forget it and moved on. I eventually noticed a real loud hum in my house phone, but really didn't pay it much mind. Later in the evening I again tried to connect to the internet and it said that all the access numbers were not getting an answer. I called the internet company and the guy came to the conclusion there was too much interferrence with my phone and that was causing the failure to connect. I called the phone company after checking all possible interior problems and concluded the problem was on their end. They guy sets me up with an appointment for 8 am.

8AM!! By time that rolls around I am feeling nauseous, weak and like the walking dead! My dogs were very confused as to why we wasn't going to bed already. Baby girl kept sitting pretty and trying to get me to follow her to the bed. She was just looking out for me, so sweet! Hubby called and woke up sleeping beauty/beast at 8:45. Yeah I made it till 8:20 and passed out on the couch!

Hubby says "Hey there is no static!"
Hmmm, that's interesting. (In the slurr of someone barely thinking)
Hubby..Did they get there already?
No, I wouldn't think so. I was only asleep for 20 minutes and they said someone had to be here. So I'm guessing he would have knocked on the door. The dogs never barked.
I guess I need to call them an see what's up.

I call them and asked if he had been here. I found out that the so called appointment was for today, but anywhere between 8am to 8pm! How can they call that an appointment!!

Truck Issues:

Hubby called yesterday and suggests that I take the truck to the car wash, to get all the pollen off of it. I debated this in my head and had told myself NO! I did not feel like getting dressed and then getting soaking wet washing the truck. I sat and tried to ignore the nagging going on in my head, needless to say I went to wash the truck!

I noticed there was something not right, just a few miles down the road. The truck was increasing its speed with out my help and even up hill. It was freaking me out and putting pressure on the brakes to slow it down took all my leg power. Something to mention to hubby, mental note. I then took it to the gas station and when I went to get back in it to leave, it didn't want to start. It eventually did, Thank goodness, but again something to crap hubby's day out with. I was scared but thankful to get it home. I was very upset, not only is hubby going to be upset, but if it is something major..I won't get to go to spend time with mom on Mother's day.

I would say yeterday and this morning were something I would like to soon forget. Maybe tomorrow will be better and MAYBE my truck will fix itself like my phone did! LOL!!!

Enter At Your Own Risk~~Rant!

Right now I am very unhappy with the company that I had fix my computer last month. From what they explained to me was that they had to wipe out all the programs that were on it and reinstall them. Well, let me tell you they really messed me up!

I admit when it comes to computers and programs I am not all that smart, but I was learning the programs I had and many I used often. When I got my computer back from these folks, I just assumed all the original programs would still be there along with the new ones that they put on. NOT!

I tried to put in a dvd to watch and this new program came up and was requesting me to register for the free trial and then pay a fee every month. The Windows Media I had was free! I then tried to get Windows Media back and the computer says something about code not supporting it. I tried to find my Microsoft Works and it is also gone.

These were programs that were original to the computer when I bought it and free, all the new stuff they put on here are trials and pay programs. I tried calling them to see what we could do about the missing programs and get rid of the pay programs and all I got was "I'll have my boss call you". That was last week and still nothing! I called the geek squad and they said it would cost me about a hundred and a half just to TRY to fix it. Of course they can't help me over the phone, I have to bring it in.

IF I was to take it in and try to get it repaired and the money I spent a month ago, I would have put out just about the same amount of money as I did buying the computer in the first place. This aggravates me very much!!

I bought myself a mp3 player last week when they were on sale and opened it this evening to set it up and try to download music on to it. I just wanted to load one song to make sure I got the "know how" down and also to check to see how long my slow dinosaur dial up was going to take with just one song.

I got it set up and ready for download and I should have gotten the "open, save, cancel" page. Instead I got an "find, save, cancel". I hit find and it takes me to a Microsoft page giving me suggestions of programs to download.

Soo..I can't watch a dvd, I can't download music and some of my favorite programs are gone and some are not retrievable. If it wasn't for my love of blogland and facebook, I would quit this computer business completely! It is just so darn expensive and frustrating. It really tries my patience nearly everyday.



I feel so limited in the things I can do, that everyone else can do so easily.

Like Utube is all over the place and I can't watch them.
People have music attached to their pages and that makes their page not work for me at all.
For some unknown reason comment areas on some pages won't open at all, I get a Windows can not find or open.
I have to sit and wait for the little pictures of all the followers to finish loading, before I can close out any blog page. For some blog pages that is easy cause they either don't have that feature or they have it condensed down to just a few that show. Others well..lets just say it takes a good while to finish loading, I can do the dishes while waiting.
I only average 4 or 5 blogs an hour, which let me just say..I follow 50 blogs and on the average 30 will post a day, so that will take me six or more hours a day!
As most of you have noticed I might not get to your post for that day cause A- I fell asleep at the computer waiting and waiting or B- I ran out of time.


What do I mean that I ran out of time? Well the dial up company charges me for the connection, but the phone company charges me for going over my minutes for the month. These minutes average out to be only five hours a day.

Is this post still on topic? Probably not! I'm just frustrated and you poor souls are being subjected to my rant. Sorry!

In other computer/blog related news...
I did manage to figure out how to get a new tab on my page. It has all the lovely awards that yall have been so generous to give me in it. And I can add up to ten tabs, this was a great find for me.

I also finally signed up with Networked Blogs on Facebook. I mostly did this so that my friends and family on Facebook will have privy knowledge that I have posted something and also a lot of them were having difficulties commenting on my blog posts.

Just in writing my two accomplishments, has made me feel some what better. I just have to learn the hard way what my limitations are, no matter how aggravating, frustrating and depressing they are. LOL!

Lucy has the perfect word for the computer...CONFUSER! Love it!

Stuff Around the House

Yeah, I know. Another blurry pic. My camera and I are not getting along.
But that is not what this post is about.
It's about the piece of paper.
Can ya read it? Can ya believe it?
High Speed is now available in your (my) area!
Woohoo!!!

I have had this flyer hanging around on my desk (tormenting, torturing and teasing me) for about 2 weeks now and talked it over with brother and Sister J (my technical advisers). Asked questions, received questions to ask. Browsed around on the Internet looking to see what others had to say and learned a lot.

I called the company twice to get those answers and was very pleased. It was going to be a total cost of 250 just for the equipment and installation. I was very concerned, that if it didn't work or I didn't like it. I would lose out on all that money. Thankfully it has a 30 guarantee, for a full refund.

I present hubby with all the info and asked if it would be something that he would be willing to save for.

He said...



"You still have the money I asked you to save back from the income tax money, don't ya?"

Yes

"Well, happy birthday!" (my b-day isn't till may)

I love that guy!!

I called the company yesterday and set up an installation for the 23rd.
I am sooooooo excited! I hope it all goes smoothly and I will soon be able to view videos and slide shows, and maybe, just maybe, I will be able to keep up with all of yall's posts. Wouldn't that be nice!

What I did for Ten Days

Random things that happened in the last ten days.

Monday..As you all know, I rushed my computer to the computer doctor after my screen went blue and Microsoft shut me down and dumped my physical memory. I did try rebooting, but the Internet wouldn't open any pages. The doctor said it was going to be 3 days, I felt lost leaving it there. My first thought was "What am I going to do with myself for 3 days!" I went home like a wounded puppy with my tail tucked.

Tuesday..With nothing to do, I called my bf and made plans with her. By noon we was going over crochet stitches and went shopping for yarn. I really shouldn't have spent the gas money but it was so worth getting to spend time with her. I started a crochet project as soon as I got home.

Wednesday..I called everyone in my speed dial to whine about my boredom. I'm sure everyone got plenty sick of me complaining. I eventually got off my butt and went outside. I first played with the dogs and before I knew it I was laying 12 inch cement blocks for a walkway. Hubby came home and before he got to the door, he said..
"Your computer should break down more often."
I shut the storm door and held it shut till he took it back!

Thursday..The computer doctor called and said my baby was ready. I rushed out the door on half a cup of coffee. I was so excited! I had to run to the bank first for several reasons and figured while I was there I would try to see if we could get a loan to help pay off a credit card.

I got home hooked it up and ten minutes into checking my emails, it started doing the exact same thing it was doing on Monday. I called them back and this boy told me somethings to do, this only made it worse. I couldn't even get it to open to my desktop.

Needless to say I was sad and pissed. I took it in to get fixed and all I could tell was that the only thing they did was add updates and give me a better virus protection. They didn't even try to FIX it.

Hubby came home right after me getting it back, so to keep him from blowing his stack, I didn't tell him. He came home early cause he was super sick, I didn't think he needed the extra stress.

A little later in the day I called to see about the loan and we was approved. What a relief and blessing. We can pay off that card and will still be saving ourselves 40 bucks a month and hundreds of interest in the long run!

Friday..First thing in the morning, I took my computer back. Now there wasn't any set time to pick it up, more of a wait and see kinda thing. Aggravating! I did tell hubby the situation before leaving. He was too sick to know what I was saying, lucky me. Stopped and got groceries and back to care for the sick fella laying on his "Death bed" (as he called it, when he crawled on it).

Saturday..I went to the hardware store (for wood) and the auto store (for spark plugs) and just for the heck of it went to the thrift store (just to browse around).
I came home and used hubbies skill saw and cut and laid the new steps. ALL BY MYSELF!

Sunday..Hubby feeling a little better. We fixed by bike together. New tires and a wash down and then attached a basket to the handle bars. Its fixed and ready to go, but I have yet to use it. Lazy. We sat around the rest of the day and watched the race.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday..I sat around crocheting and calling the computer doctor twice a day. I did manage to get in a lot of extra heavy duty house cleaning and extra chatting with the family everyday.

Now that brings up to date with Thursday..Computer doctor calls and says my baby is ready. They didn't charge me anything extra!
So far so good and very happy, happy, happy!!

Phoneless Weekend

Saturday..
The phone rings a funky ring, kinda like a half ring. Hubby and I look at each other, WTF was that? I connect to the Internet and check my email. Just checking to see what comments I got that morning. I run off to get groceries. When I get home, I try to connect to the Internet again and it keeps telling me "No Dial Tone".

Now I had this happen before and all it took was some phone tag. Pick up one phone and make sure it is in the off position and replace to cradle, move on to the next phone and repeat the process, pick up the previous phone and Voila it works.

So I proceed to do this routine and nothing. I unplug and replug and still nothing. I call the phone company (the automated man) and get info on things to do.

Take an old fashioned phone with plug (yes, I still have one) and check the jacks. Okay did that and still nothing. Now go to the pole outside and plug it in there. Hmmm, it works at the pole, but not in the house.

I call my parents from my cell. Dad says he called but all he got was a busy signal. While talking to dad, mom's in the background yelling that she's been trying to call all day! In response to moms yelling, I said "You have my cell number!"

I threw that convo in cause it made me think about why hubby and I didn't think about calling the house phone from my cell.

Hubby went the entire length of the line and found a kink. Hubby straightens the kink and the phone works. I am happy to get back on the Internet again!

Sunday..
I wake to hubby all dressed and ready for his birthday lunch with his momma, but he's messing with the phone. Going outside and inside and grumbling to himself. Once again we have no phone. I try to tell him it's not a big deal today cause we have a busy day ahead of us. He informs me IT IS a big deal, he could be missing some birthday wishes!

I let him continue on his quest of fixing the universe, as I get myself ready to go.
He has determined that we need new line from the pole to the jack in the house. I'm like..did you measure it? No. Basically this just means, he's going to guess the footage and add a extra 50 feet. LOL!

We stop at Home Depot on our way to his mommas. He leads me to the electrical part and goes down one isle and determines that they don't have it.

Patience man! God forbid if he was to ask a worker for help! I am not that macho, I ask and am lead right to it.

We grabbed a few extra items so he can have his motorcycle phone sitting next to him in the living room. It really sticks out in the decor but I do put up with it. He doesn't ask for much. Although this little kind gesture (on my part) lead to where is my this or my that. Now I'm the one grumbling to myself!

As we are on our way home, his bff (Big Fat Friend (not my words, theirs)) calls his cell to wish him a Happy Birthday. They talk about the phone situation at home. Bff says the phone is working fine, it rang and the answer machine came on. I tried it with my cell and yes, it's working.

All the way home, we are trying to figure out what the deal is. We got nothing.

Spooky ass phone has a mind of its own!
It better cut it out, I have blogs to do!